3 Exercises to Help Flatten your Belly
Planking
Image Source: Women’s Health Magazine
Planking will not only strengthen your core (abs included), but they will actually strengthen your back as well. The combination of working your abs and back will not only ‘flatten’ your belly, but it will actually improve your posture so you will appear much flatter than you were previously.
How to do:
- Start in the pushup position, except have your forearms on the ground/mat instead of your hands. Keep your elbows in line with your shoulders.
- Push off floor, body resting only on toes and forearms.
- Keep your back flat, squeeze glutes, tighten abs- creating a nearly straight line. A ‘plank’ if you will.
- Hold for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on core strength.
Ab Crunch with Toe Touch
This will not only work your lower, middle and upper abs, but it will stretch your hamstrings and is a good isometric hold for your hip flexors.
How to do:
- Start by lying flat on your back.
- Raise both legs in the air with a slight bend in the knees.
- Do a crunch and reach up to touch the toes (you may not make it all the way to the toes, but touching your ankle/shoes is a good enough start).
- Return back to position with feet in the air with a slight knee bend.
Full Crunch with Medicine Ball
Image Source: http://www.everydaybetter.com
This is a standard crunch taken to the next level. The additional weight will add difficulty and force your abs to work harder, therefore strengthening them more than a ‘standard crunch.’
How to do:
- Lie flat on a gym mat or ground with arms extended out straight behind head with medicine ball in hands
- As you curl your upper torso towards your knees continue holding ball and shift ball from above head to over torso
- Pause, then return to start point where arms are extended above your head
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